I am sorry we didn't get back to you before this. I have had the opportutinity to read both you note and essay and am sorry you are unable to understand our logo.

You are wrong in your assumption that the logo is wrong. As the spokesperson for the World Trade Center for 13 years as a senior management official in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey I can assure you the positioning of the towers as depicted in the Tribute logo is correct. The North Tower is north of the South Tower. It is correct as depicted on the logo. Sorry you can't seem to see it.

The logo was designed by Peter Arnell, one of the great branding designers in the country who gave us the DKNY logo and the Reebok logo among others. Peter is an architect and photographer as well and in addition to the simple depiction of the footprints provided us with a fully developed brand identity relating to Tribute and to the towers. Peter has given hundreds and millions of dollars of pro bono work to the FDNY and NYPD as well as many global causes and he is fully capable of thinking through and executing all elements of brand architecture. We were privileged to have him on board on this project. Peters design was enhanced by Lance Wyman, one of the great graphic designers of our time and the man generally considered the "father" of wafinding design. Lance has designed logos for the Olympics, for products, cities around the world, and we at Tribute were fortunate enough to have his help on our logo.

I hope you can find another topic to discuss on in your blog, as currently you are misinforming people about our logo, the intent, and application.

I also think the essence of the footprints, the void, that is filled every day through the personal interaction that takes place between the more than 100,000 visitors who have come through Tribute so far since our opening September 18th, and the 160 volunteers who have ushered people around the site is of more note than your protestations about our logo. Today we hosted 160 reservists who will be deployed to Afghanistan in 2 weeks. Their guides; family members, survivors, volunteers who spent months at the site, rescue workers and residents were all proud to help these brave men and women understand the events of 9/11 and the personal nature of the aftermath. They are the essence of why Tribute was created and what it is all about.

I would suggest that the next time you are in Tribute, you make prior arrangements to meet wit me, you now have my contact information, and I will show you around personally. I was the Deputy Commissioner of the FDNY on 9/11, was in the towers, was nearly killed and lost 343 of my own men that day. I wrote 100 eulogies for them and then built Tribute to honor them and the other 2700 people killed that day. I take full responsibility and stand behind our mission, design, logo, back-story and I sleep comfortably at night knowing I have done all I can to honor those I loved and lost.

One last thing. I thought your remarks about the Tribute staff member who seemed uninformed were a real cheap shot. Please don't pick on some kid on my staff then mock him out on your web site. If you want to spend precious moments of your life railing about our logo then go ahead, but if you'd like the real story or want to take on someone, you can speak to me directly.

Lynn
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I appreciate the time you dedicated to explaining the logo. (FYI: the staff member I spoke with was an older distinguished gentleman that was supervising the staff the day I was there.)
I would love to meet with you the next time I am in New York.
Thanks again. Take care,
Jim Watson www.jamesrobertwatson.com/tributeletter.html